Garden and beach umbrella



Feb. 5, 1952 R, A, RUSSELL 2,584,502

v GARDEN AND BEACH UMBRELLA Filed Aug. 17, 1946 VEN TOE atented Feb. 5.,1952 UNITED [STATES eATsNT OFFICE GARDEN AND BEACH UMBRELLA' Raya.Russell, santa Ana, Calif.

I -Application August 17, 1946, Serial No. 691,263-

This invention relates'particularly to .structures for large umbrellasof thetype to be set `up in stationary positions, at least temporarily,and commonly known as garden umbrellas and beach umbrellas. These.frequently have means' for tilting the umbrella canopy with .respect toa center post or staff which carries the canopy and is adapted forbeingthrustinto the.. earth or sand or otherwise heldupright.

The vprincipal objects of the invention are to provide novel, eflicientand simple structures lfor use in umbrella manufacture ofthe indicatedtype and to furnish to the purchasing public devices which arehighlyserviceable'while at the Sametime relatively economical. y

A more specific object is to provide a novel, easily operable, andunusually vdurable tilting head or joint whereby'the opened canopy maybe locked against swingingmovement both up and down from a tiltedposition, well as to provide novel, serviceable and simple means. -forjoining and latching two separable portions o f the post.

A further object is to provide novel, simple and serviceable means forlatching the opened canopy in open position. Another object is toprovide novel, simple and serviceable means for securing the center ofthe canopy permanently to the top of the post, and Afor slidablymounting the lower ends of the usual canopy bracing ribs upon the DOSI;-

Further objects, and featuresof novelty, will become apparentuponreference to' the accom-v panying vdrawing wherein one usefulembodiment of the invention is disclosed by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view `of'the assembledparts of theumbrella, and showing'the canopy-positioning' parts in normalcanopylelevating position, portions being broken awayto facilitatedisclosure;

Fig. 2 is a similar view on an enlagedlscale of the tilting joint orheadiindicated at the middleofFg'lg, L

Fig. 3 is a horizontalv cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;"

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of the canopy securing lmeansshown atV thev top of Fig. 1, portions being broken away; f

Fig'. 5 is a horizontal cross'section taken 'on the lines 5-5 of Figs. 1and 4;' and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale ofthe latching means joining two post sections as v indicated by`the line6-3 of fsbiims. (C1. l13s-46) 2 The structure illustrated includes analuminum or other metal post I0 comprising va lower tube ksection Il, anupper tube section I2, an intermediate tube section I4, and a tiltingjoint I5 joining the tube sections I2 Yand I4. A plunger lock I6connects the tube section II to the tube section I4. On thetop of theupper tube section I2 of the post IIIy a rib and canopy retainer I B ismounted whereby to position the inner and upper ends of the usual canopysupporting ribs I9. Below the `retainer I8, a spreader ring structure 2@is slidably mounted on the post I0 for the purpose of positioning theusual bracing and spreadingribs 2 I The ring structure 2i) is held ,inoperative position by a supporting latch 22. The tiltingjoint I5comprises an upstanding shank 25 integral with a lower plug 26 (Fig. 2)which rits into the upper end of the lower tube section II,v the plug 26being positioned by an overhanging ange 2 1 and locked in place by alock pin 28 secured in a socket 29 in the plug y23 and in acorresponding aligned hole in the tube section I I. The lower portion ofthe shank 25 carries a transverse pivot pin3ll whose ends project andreceive the lower ends of a pair of spaced arms 32 which are integralwith an upper plug 33 tted into the lower end of the upper tube sectionI2 and having a flange 3 4seated against the lower edge thereof. A lockpin 35 iixed in a hole in the tube section I2 and in a. socket 36 in theplug 33 insures proper positioning of the respective parts.

As will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3, the upstandf ing shank 25 isgenerally quadrilateral in cross section and is narrow enough in onetransverse direction to accommodate at its sides the arms 32 within thediametrical limits of the post secV tions n; l2, and I4. Also, the shank25 is only` about half that diameter in the other transverse directionso that it provides an inner vertical face 3l against which stop meansinthe form of aV latch pin 38 in the arms 32 and a pivoted latch bar 4i)may lie, asin Fig. 1 An inner vertical pocket is also thus providedbetween the arms 32 to receive the latch bar 4U; see also Fig. 3. Insuch folded or collapsed position. the parts are aligned. The latch pin38 is secured in the upper portionsof Athe arms 32 and spans the spacebetween them, this pin 38 being disposed suiciently to one'side of themedian line of the arms 32 to permit the folding of the parts.

The latch bar 40 moves between the arms 32' and above the latch pin 38.and is provided on VitsV under edge with spacednotches 4I adaptedselestiely t? .lessive thelawh gli@ foreseen positions of adjustment ofthe arms 32 as the notches 4l will accommodate. The upper end of thelatch bar 40 carries an offset integral lug 40a which is receivedbetween two upstanding integral ears a on the upper or outer end of theshank 25 and upon a pivot 42 carried by the ears 25a. By reason of suchmounting the latch bar 40 and the arms 32 may be swung between anytilted position of adjustment, such as seen in Fig. 2,.and the alignedposition of Figs. l and 3. As best indicated in Fig. 3, the heads of thepivot pin and the latch pin 38 are received countersunk seats in thesides of the arms 32.

As Will be apparent from the aboye description, the latch bar may beswung out from its collapsed position oi Fig. 1 into an angular positionsuch as that of Fig. 2. .'Io facilitate such Y swinging movement, thelower end of the latch bar 40 is provided with finger depressions 43 fonopposite sides and the corresponding lower corners .of the arms 32 .arecut away .at 44 to Ypro-- vide for access .to such depressions. When thearms 32 .and the upper tube section IZ'have been disposed Yat an angleto. tip the canopy as de:- sired, the latch bar 40 is depressed todispose the walls dof the adjacent notch 4l about the latch pin 38.These walls `of the notches 4I, as indicated in Fig. 2, preventaccidental further movement of the arms 32 both upward and downward, itbeing necessary to lift the latch bar 40 to accomplish a diierentadjustment.

It is to beV noted that an uppermost notch is formed in the latch bar 40for the purpose of receiving Ithe latch pin 38 when in collapsedposition. In view of the short radius, the wall v45a of the notch 45,most remote from the Vpivot 42, isappropriately curved approximately asshown to 'provide for the necessary `movement of the bar 40. This curvedwall 45a performs another function, in that, Vif the latch .bar 40 isVlifted a short `distance -but not enough to clear the notch 45,swinging of the arms 3-2 `will `cause 'the -latch pin l38 to work uponthe wall 45a as a cam -face and thereby lift the latch bar 40 until'the-notch 45 is cleared. In this instance the next notch 4l will -not becleared yand the latch pin-3-8 -will engage therein, thereby preventingfurther `tilting movement unless the AlatclrbarM) is lift manually.Similarly, if in collapsing the joint Pi,` the arms 32 have -been moved-a little short of alignment, depression of the latch bar 40 will causeAthe curved wall 45a, again to act Ias a cam 'and' force thelatch pin38, and hence the arms 32, :into aligned position wherein -the latch pin38 and hence the larms 32 are held bythe latch bar `40;

To insure retention 'of the latch bar 40 in aligned position, a -detent45 may be usedv which is urged-into a recess Y41 in the lug 40a -bymeans of a spring 48 which is received in a pocket 49 in the upperportion -o the shankV 25 and 'is disposed `about a stem 45a integralwith the detent 46, which detent constitutes a head on the stem andprovides vthereby `a bearing surface *for the top ofthe spring 48.

Thus, the latch bar 40 serves to vlock the arms 32 in collapsed positionand aligned with'the intermediate tube section I4. When in the abovedescribed aligned position, the parts of the tilting joint YI5 assumethe circular cross Asectional relationship shown inA Fig. 3, and thisposition permits the spreader ring structure '20 'to slide .up and downthereover for raising and lowering the canopy. When in lelevatedposition,` the ring structure v2|() is retained by the elongatedspringcontrolled supporting vcatch 22 whose upper end portion projectspartially through a slot 50 in the upper tube section I2 and whose upperend wall 5| normally acts as a stop, the intermediate portion of thecatch 22 bearing upon the lower edge of the slot 50 as amovement-limiting means. The lower end of the supporting catch 22 asshown is integrally provided with a positioning lug 52 which projectssomewhat loosely through a corresponding hole the adjacent sidewall ofthe ytube section l2. The catch 22 is controlled by an elongatedA wirespring 54, one

`end of which is embedded in the lower end of the catch 22 adjacent thelug 52 and the other :end -pf which .is curved downward and bearsagainst the inner wall of the tube section l2 on the yside-opposite fromthe lug 52. Thus, the top yend `wall y5l :normally retains the spreaderring structure 20 and its canopy in elevated position, the upper endportion of the catch 22 being retractable, as by pressure of the thumbor finger, against the action of `,thepspring54 to .permit the ringstructure 2l)v itc be lowered.-

.The spreader.ringpstructure 20 and the retainer .IB :for the v,canopy,ribs I9 are substantially the same ,in Aconstruction,one being invertedwith respect `to til-1e other, and .each being rformed of vtwo notched.rtelescopedring members enclosing a split spring ring. `Tl're spreaderrring :structure 20 comprises an inner somewhat '.elongated, sleeve-likeretaining ring 50al 4and an -outer retaining ring 62a fitting' upon thering 50a both being provided with notches :63a in --t-heir upper edgesand receiving between them a split spr-ingwire lock ring 64a whichpasses through eyesl 21| a commonly provided on the umbrella bracingvribs '2 l. This construction isshown in greater detail in conjunctionwith the retainer-'|18 Iier vthe-canopy ribs i9.

The `retainer `I8 vcomprise s,as best seen in Fig's. 4 and 5, an 'innerretaining 4:ring 130, Aarrouter retaining ring-62 both of 'these-rings`=having notches 63 in their lower edges,and'asplit-spring wireVlock ring 64. Thesepar-ts correspond withV the parts similarlynumbered, inconunction with-the suffix a,-of the'ring structure l20. =Inboth instances, the outer 4rings :"62, 62a, are provided with shortgrooves `the resultant iingers between the notches 53, =6'3a..Suchg-rooves,as'indicatedat 65, are deep'enoughtoaccommodate-the entire:thickness of the-wire lock rings 54, 64a when the latter are expandedand opposing shallow flocking grooves'intheinner retaining rings v6i),68a, asindicated attfFig. 5, accommodate approximately one-half the`cross-sectipnal thicknessof the wire ringswhen thela-tter are`reieasedl and permitted to contract into locked position. The springlock ring 64 receives eyes |9a on the canopy ribs 19, and the spring10.61 ',ririsrq receives the corre- Spending svegli@ 0n "die 'bracingribs '2i/these eyes being disposeclin the notches 83, 33a when the4parts 'are assembled `and 'being -lockedin position when the springlock rings'contract. Asbest seen: infris- 5; each spring Vutilising maybe provided at one endwith an offset '68 received in a hole 5S in theouter retaining ring 62, 62a to facilitate assembly or removal' `of thepartsf As will be apparent. when the sprinelock 'rines sleeve-like ringta-of the spreader structure 20 is free to slide on the post I andcarrt7 with it the bracingribs 2 I.

The assembled canopy retainer I8 is installed upon the top of the uppertube section I2 of the post I0, its position being determined, ifdesired, by a flange 'I8 on the inner ring B8. Retention is accomplishedby means of a plurality of anchoring pins 'I2 which project throughcorresponding holes in the retaining rings 60, 62 and in the tubesection I2 and into the base v'of a wooden plug 'I5 tightly tted intothe top of the tube section I2 and having an exposed nished extremitywhich may be tapered as shown or decorated as required. The pins 'I2 arelocated at any appropriate positions above or below the lock ring 64whereby to avoid the latter.

For the purpose of attaching and detaching the lowermost tube section II of the post I8, whereby to make the entire umbrella collapsible into aunit of minimum length, and yet have a stai adequately long for use, theplunger lock I6 is employed in conjunction with a ,telescopic connectionbetween the tube sections Il and the intermediate tube section I4. Inthe form shown, a sleeve 88 (Fig. 6) is Afixed in the upper end of thetube section II and is adapted to be removably teleseoped into the tubesection I4. The plunger lock I6 is carried by the sleeve 80, andcomprises a relatively elongated internal plunger portion 82 disposedradially of the sleeve 88. A short normally exposed plunger portion 83of smaller diameter than the elongated portion 82 connects the portion82 with a manipulating head 84. The lower end of the tube section I4 isprovided with a keyhole type of slot 85 whose lower end is open andwhose lower portion is wide enough to pass the short section 83 but toonarrow to pass the larger diameter portion 82. However, the upper end ofthe slot 85 is large enough to receive the outer end of the largerdiameter portion 82 whereby, when the plunger is extended the tubesections II and I4 are locked together but when depressed the smallerdiameter portion 83 may pass through the narrow portion of the slot forseparation of the mentioned tube sections II and I4. The plunger ismounted by positioning the outer end of its larger diameter portion 82in a hole 86 in the sleeve 88 and its inner end in a small sleeve 88containing an extending spring 98. A cross pin 92 in the plunger portion82 between the hole 86 and the inner end of the sleeve 88 both limitsthe outward movement of the plunger to locking posivtion and its inwardmovement to releasing position wherein the cross pin 82 strikes thesleeve 88. The outer end of the sleeve 88 is xed in the adjacent wallportion of the sleeve 80 and carries a positioning pin 94 which providesa seat for the spring 98 and may be used also in connection withpositioning of the sleeve 88.

In operation of the plunger lock I6, the head 84 is depressed to bringthe reduced diameter portions 83 into alignment with the narrow portionof the slot 85, whereby to admit the sleeve 88 into the intermediatetube section I4, as in Fig. 6. Release of the head 84 permits the spring90 to extend the plunger so that the outer end of the larger diametersection 82 becomes locked in the enlarged upper end of the-slot 85. Thepost I8 thus assembled may then be thrust into the earth, for example,the 'spreading ring structure 28 moved upward above the supporting catch22 to elevate and hold the canopy, and the tilting joint I actuated toany desired angle, as above described. N

Since various modifications of the generic structure disclosed may bemade Within the scope of the claims, it is intended that these alsoshall be covered hereby.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination in an umbrella structure: a post having two sections;and a tilting joint disposed between said two sections, said jointcomprising a shank secured to andprojecting from one of said sections,an arm secured to and projecting from the other ofsaid sections andpivotally attached to said shank to align therewith in extendedrposition, a latch bar pivotally connected to the outer end of saidshank and adapted to fold alongside of said shank into'collapsedposition, and stop means carried by said arm, said arm providing atransverse passage adjacent said stop means and receiving said latchbar,said latch bar having locking means to engage said stop means andprevent swinging movement between said shank and arm in eitherdirection, both said stop means and the pivotal mounting of said latchbar on said shank being spaced vsubstantial distances from the point ofpivotal connection between said shank and said arm, said shank and armlbeing collapsible into aligned position and said bar being collapsibleinto a pocket in said joint formed by said passage and to lie alongsidesaid arm and said shank and to engage and retain said stop means inlocked position closely adjacent said outer end of said shank.

2. In combination in a tilting joint for umbrellas: a shank memberadapted to be secured to one section of an umbrella post to projecttherefrom; an arm member adapted to be secured to a second section ofsaid umbrella post and project therefrom; pivot means pivotallyconnecting said shank member and arm member for movement between analigned position and positions or angular adjustment with respect toeach other; a latch bar pivoted upon one of said members; and stop meanscarried by the other of said members, said latch bar having cooperatingmeans for engagement with said stop means to retain said members inadjusted position, said stop means being spaced longitudinally along itsmember from said pivot means, and a transverse passage being provided bysaid arm member through which said latch bar slidably extends, said stopmeans being movable to a position adjacent the pivotal mounting of thelatch bar on said one of said members when the two members are alignedand said latch bar being movable to a position where it engages aboutsaid stop means when said members are aligned whereby to lock saidmembers in aligned position.

3. In combination in a joint for an umbrella: two joint members adaptedrespectively to be attached to and project from opposing sections of anumbrella post and be interposed between said sections; pivot meanspivotally connecting said members together for movement between alignedposition and positions of angular adjustment with respect to each other;a latch bar pivoted upon one of said members; and cooperating stop meanson the other of said members for latching engagement with said bar andretention of said members in adjusted position, said stop means beingspaced longitudinally along its member from said pivot means, atransverse passage being provided by said other member adjacent saidstop means, said bar lying in said passage, said bar having means foradjustably engaging said stop means in locking relationship, said stopmeans being movable against said one of said members Vwhen said membersare aligned, `and said latch 'bar' being Vmovable vabout .its pivot.into collapsed .relationship alongside said members when said membersare in aligned position and engaging said stop means to maintain .saidmemlocking means on :said latch barincludes notches Y formed in said barand having side walls, said side walls engaging Asaid stop means toprevent movement in .opposite directions.

6.. `A vcombination Vas in claim '3 including ydetentmeans carried .bythe member upon which said latch bar is pivoted 'for locking said latchbar in collapsed position alongside such member uponzwhich said bar ispivoted.

A7. In combination in an umbrella structure: a post .having twosections; and a tilting joint between said two sections, said jointcomprising a shank'secureditc and projecting from one of -said sections,an arm secured to the othery of said sections and pivotaliy attached tosaid shank at the base thereof remote from lits outer vend, and a latchbar having `connections at spaced points with said arm and with theouter end of said shank and adapted to fold alongside vthereof tocollapsed position, `said connections including a pivot mounting betweensaid latch bar and one of `said arm and said shank for swinging of saidbar, and said connections including cooperating means on said bar andthe other of said arm and shank to lock said arm and shank togetheragainst swinging movement in either direction when tipped at an anglerelative to one another, said cooperating means including stop lmeans 8carried by .said arm .and notches .carried by seid Lbar for selective:engagement with said stop means, said arm and shank providing a P Cke.into which said bar folds.; -said notches being directed towand saidshank and disposed against .saidgstop means when .saidlatch bar isfolded vinto collapsed position `in said pocket.

8. `A combination .as Vin :claim 7 wherein said pivot mountingr islocated on said outer end of said .shank :and said stop means is a latchpin l.on said v.arm and said Ynotches are located on the .underside `of.said .latch ybarand .have side .Walls for vengaging saidqlatch .pin andpreventingrnovementcfzsaidbar onsaid pininei-therlongitudinal direction.

RAY A. RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are .of record .in the le of.this patent:

UNITED .STATES PATENTS Number 'Name :Date

265,275 Olinger Oct. .3,1882 348,099 Beales Aug. 24, 1886 695,161Linkert Mar. 11 1'902 704,128 Seymour Julyy 8, 1902 738,554 Lingel Sept.8, 1903 '746,495 Glassburn Dec. .8, 1903 886,'885 Spanick 'May `5, 1'908V1,546,015 Durbin July V14, -192,5

1,808,610 Roy June 2, 1931 1,839,958 Ericson Jan. 5, 1932 FOREIGNyPA'I".EJNI`S Number Country V-1Date 19,019 Great'Britain Sept. 3, 1903`451,914 Germany Nov. 4, '1927

